Cop killed after militants attack police vehicle in J-K’s Kulgam

The attack comes on a day two militants were killed in an encounter in Pulwama.

Army soldiers near the site of gunfight in Kulgam in February 2017. (HT File Photo)

A policeman was killed in Kashmir’s Kulgam district when militants opened fire on a police vehicle on Saturday evening.

Constable Khurshid Ahmad Tak, who was hit by bullets in the firing, later succumbed to his injuries. The police team was returning from a medical camp where they were on duty.

“Despite being injured, Tak displayed conspicuous act of courage by successfully taking the vehicle out of arch of fire and saved lives of others. He attained martyrdom in the process,” a police spokesperson said.

The policeman is survived by his parents, wife, a three-year-old daughter and two-year-old son.

“We pay rich tribute to the brave heart Khurshid Ahmed and stand by the family at this critical juncture. Our heartfelt condolences for the loss of young, promising and committed police official,” the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson added that attackers were identified as members of the Gulzar Paddar group and Umar Majid Ganie group of the Hizbul Mujahideen.

An investigation into the attack is underway.

The attack comes on a day two militants, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Waseem Shah, were killed in a gun-battle with security forces in Pulwama. One civilian was also killed, and four others critically injured, as locals began protesting near the encounter site, pelting stones at policemen.